Opinions on a 1987 Kawai GS-100?!

[prongated]

Hi,

At the moment I'm looking into buying this 9-foot Kawai GS-100 made in 1987 for about US$15000. However, for that kind of money, I really want to make sure that I'm getting some quality. Since the piano is located far away from me, I also have no way of trying the piano out myself...so...

What are your opinions on this piano? How good is a GS-series Kawai piano? How does it stand up compared to the Yamaha G-series? (I play on Yamaha G1 at the moment) Any general or specific comments (especially touch and response) will both be much appreciated!

[Personally, I like the recent range of Kawai pianos (RX and SK), however I have heard that the previous, older models are not much good in comparison with other brands such as Yamaha...]

[cz4p32]

That price seems too good to be true, unless the piano is in need of alot of work.  I recently bought a KG6 from 1977 and paid us 15,000. 

I can't say i've played a GS100, but i absolutely love my KG6. 

[prongated]

...thanks for the comments, cz4p32! I thought it is sort of too good to be true too...but well, according to the seller's technician, about US$4000 can be put in to bring it back up to concert standard...but I believe different technicians will have different opinions anyway, and I don't intend to restore it unless it is in an atrocious condition...which hopefully it is not ^^

...for that price, I am also recently offered a Kawai RX-5 (year 1998 I think)...so on top of the questions I posted earlier: given US$ 15000, would you get a GS-100 or an RX-5?

[quantum]

I'd be tempted to go for the bigger piano (considering it is in relatively good condition).  Really the best thing to desice is to go play them both and get the one with the better sound and action. 

Bigger piano means ritcher bass, while the RX-5 is newer and maybe have less wear. 

You might want higher a tech in the vacinity of the GS-100 yourself (probably someone not related to the seller), and get a written statemet on the piano's condition. 

I have found that The older GS series have a more defined attack with a bolder sound, while the new RX's have a rounder tone with more colour. 

In some instances I have experienced when older Kawai GS or KG were in the same room with newer RX's, the RX tone seemed mushy and had less projecting power as a GS or KG.  The newer RX's had an obvious advantage with the action, being much more fluid than the older Kawais though. 

[prongated]

Thanks Quantum!

I have decided against the GS-100. Not only do I not know the exact condition, but I like the idea of the newer, more sensitive (?) action of the RX. While the room can accomodate the 9-foot piano, I think an RX-5 should have enough sound anyway.

So I think I'll go for the RX. It's just that the idea of getting a full-sized Kawai grand at such a price is simply very tempting at first - plus it's born in the same year as me!

For those who are interested in the piano anyway: https://cgi.ebay.com.au/GRAND-PIANO-KAWAI-9ft_W0QQitemZ130031930767QQihZ003QQcategoryZ16220QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[quantum]

Your welcome.  If getting RX, make sure to check what type of action it has.  Millennium III is the latest and has excellent reviews.